March 23, 1910 - Jan. 9, 2006

Mrs. Bielejewski was born on March 23, 1910, in South Bend, and resided in the Michiana area her lifetime.

On January 13, 1940, in South Bend, as Mildred E. Palka, she married Frank S. Bielejewski, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Donna M. Horvath and her companion, George Murat of South Bend, and Gloria J. (William) Parker of McMurray, Pa.; a son, Wayne F. (Bettye) Bielejewski of Granger, Ind.; a sister, Geraldine Kubiak of South Bend. Also six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren whom she loved and cherished.

Mildred was preceded in death by four sisters, Irene Palka, Loretta Humphrey, Vivian Michalski and Evelyn Gundeck; and by a brother, Donald Palka.

Mrs. Bielejewski was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and the National Polish Women's Alliance. She was a homemaker and worked during the WWII era at the Bendix Corp. riveting airplane wings. Known as: "Rozy the Riverter."

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Mildred loved gardening, her indoor and outdoor flowers, crocheting, being with the family at the lake in the summer and traveling, and most of all going to the Blue Chip Casino. She was an avid lover of all animals and enjoyed the horses, dogs and cats on the farm.

She was a loving and caring person, a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and all who knew her. She was dedicated to her church and her church family.

Visitation hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, January 12, in Hanley & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home, located at West Ireland Road/Indiana 23, South Bend. A Rosary will be said at 4 p.m. today.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be said at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 13, in Holy Cross Catholic Church, with the Rev. Michael Mathews, CSC, officiating. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.

The family request that all memorial contributions be made to the new MILITARY HONOR PARK, P.O. Box 3356, South Bend, IN 46619.

The HANLEY & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home handled arrangements and services and extend deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to the Bielejewski family.